Programs

School Program: Opening Kindergarten through 6th grade in 2010-11. (Adding grade levels in subsequent years - 7th grade in 2011-12, and 8th grade in 2012-13)

Educational Program: Heron Bay Academy is a charter school that is applying to Henry and Griffin-Spalding School Districts for approval. Contingent upon approval, the Academy will be open to students residing in the Heron Bay designated attendance zones (to be approved) in Spalding and Henry County. The school will incorporate a core curriculum with the Paragon® Curriculum and a magnet-like Arts and Technology focus that links core learning with multiple learning styles. Core curriculum includes top rated, phonics-based Open Court Reading, SRA Math (the nation’s top-rated math program), Harcourt Brace Science, and Spanish. Paragon® is a proprietary social studies/history/geography program that incorporates literature, drama, art, music, and technology. Paragon® engages students with hands-on exploration and reinforces core morning classes by addressing varying student-learning styles.

Unique Program Aspects (In addition to meeting or exceeding all state and federal standards):
• 200-day school year
• Uniform dress code and strong student behavior code of civility
• Personalized Student Achievement Plans for every student (with annual learning goals and strategies to help achieve those goals)
• Instructional grouping (allows individual children to be grouped every 10 weeks with peers at the same instructional level, assuring that children are continuously growing academically and are appropriately challenged)
• Parental involvement
• Pre and post-testing each fall and spring
• Longer school day (8:00 AM to 3:30 PM) (This, along with the longer year, provides 2 years of additional learning time during the first 6 years in the school.)
• Multiple assessments including Dibels, A+, ITBS and CRCT
• Spanish education for all students at all grade levels
• Full-time teaching coach provides daily professional development
• World-class, research-based curriculum
• “Looping” whereby the student stays with the same teacher for 2-3 years
• Educational assistants supporting kindergarten and first-grade classes
• Technology integrated with a 1:3 computer-student ratio
• Fee based before and after school programs
• “Paragon® Night” (students to demonstrate their learning accomplishments to their parents and community every 5 weeks)
• Annual customer satisfaction surveys of parents.)
• Extensive professional development plan

Enrollment: No tuition or fees will be charged to attend the school. Pre-enrollment begins in April of 2008. Enrollment preference will be given to siblings. (Once your child is enrolled, siblings are offered enrollment at the same time.)

Governance: Governed by a Board of Directors. All meetings and policies are subject to the Georgia Open Meetings and Records Act as well as the Georgia Charter Schools Act.

Food Service: Yes
Transportation: Walking/Biking trails and Carpools
Special Education: Yes
Gifted and Talented: Yes
English Language Learner program: Yes, immersion model
Curriculum aligned with Georgia Performance Standards: Yes
Certified staff and administration: Yes
Longitudinal assessment plus CRCT testing: Yes
Before and after school programs: Yes
Participation in state accountability, accreditation and school improvement program: Yes